Where have you been?

Here, there and everywhere - that's where.

Last weekend, we packed our bags and spent time with nephew Trent, Kim, their baby bump! (coming in July), the dogs and the cats at their incredibly cool, old home. Larry and I are both the youngest in our families. It has perks. One of those perks is being an aunt and uncle to adults who are living, doing, traveling, marrying, starting families... Somehow friendship takes over - if you're doing it right. And there is still this level of familial hierarchy. That's good, too. I feel confident that any one of ours could and would call us if the chips were down.

Of course, it poses an interesting situation for Ella: she has no cousins her age. What she does have is her cousin's children to grow up with. We are thrilled to know that Trent and Kim's arrival in July will be part of that crew.

And we think they're going to be great parents because of their love, admiration and attention to Ella.

 

How many grown men would hit the park in his pj's to swing with his cousin on an early Sunday morning?

Larry sticks the landing!

The park across the street from their home was great. As you can see, we all got in on the fun.

Ella scaled the 'rock wall' her first try.

Swings then slide. Slide then swings...

Jasper, Kim and Josie.

We are still rather amazed at how at ease Ella was in their home (having never been there before) around four different pets. She owned the place within minutes and was quite smitten with the cats. Since returning from our road trip, she has really turned the corner on her affection towards my parents' old guy, Bentley. Win-win!

Sergei and his new shadow.

We hit a tiki restaurant for dinner and then to the most incredible ice cream joint. (Line out the door incredible...)

I love everything about this shot.

She fell asleep like this and woke up in the same position 8 hours later. To hear her say, "I don't want to leave Trent and Kim" on Sunday morning was pretty much the best thing ever.

The rest of the week has gone like this:

• Ella ditched all pull-up wearing at nap and night sleeps (something she was not letting go of despite the fact that her pull-ups haven't been wet in a year)
• My mom left for Florida to visit her brother for a week (translation: my sitter is on vacation)
• My dad left for business out of state (translation: Bentley the dog needed our love and care)
• My sister-in-law had major surgery and is finally home resting
• Larry played two gigs over the weekend in conjunction with all of the St. Patrick's Day hoopla (translation: he wasn't around much)
• I have been full-time MOMMY!!! mode since...oh heck sometime earlier this week

We've got lots of cute photos of the rest of our week. And when I finish up my last 'vacation day' from work (ha) tomorrow with Ella, I'll try to get back on here.

In the meantime, sleep well!

~H